REPENT AND BE CONVERTED

Acts 3:17-21 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

To those gathered around at the miraculous healing of the lame man, Peter continued his inspired teaching of the persecution and crucifixion of the Son of God by the Jewish nation in an understanding, rather than a condemning manner by telling them, I wot (or know) that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. No doubt the majority of the Jews were ignorant about the prophetic details of the coming of the Messiah. However, their spiritual leaders and rulers were also ignorant of God's will. They were blinded by their own prejudices. Although they had access to God's will, they were willingly ignorant of everything, which God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer. And now, Peter told them, He (God) hath so fulfilled (these prophesies). Isaiah 53 assures this to be true.

Having the error of their ignorance explained to them, and recognizing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, Peter toldthem again, as he did in his opening sermon on the Day of Pentecost, to repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Again, repentance is more than sorrow. Repentance is a complete change of heart and mind - it is a resolve to turn from following the sinful human ways of life, and turn to the righteous ways of God. Having made this resolve, Peter tells them that, in order to have their sins blotted out and forgiven, they must also be converted. From the prior sermon of the apostles we know that the conversion required here included being baptized ...in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Godly conversion is not something given to you. Neither is it something that is accomplished in thought and sincere meditation. Conversion requires each candidate, for the forgiveness of sins, to act on their own volition - to deliberately exercise a willingness and self-choice to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and be baptized unto His death for the remission of sins.

These acts of obedience to the will of God are not mere ceremonial faith, but rather, by faith in God and His Son, Christ Jesus, they are necessary in order that the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Refreshing peace is promised only to those that do the will of God, accept Jesus as their Savior, and, by their obedience, are added to the church for which the Savior died to establish. It is in the church of Christ, and only in His body, where one is able to enter, by faith and baptism, and find themselves in the presence of the Lord. Before the beginning of time, Jesus Christ was God's appointed Son, to be the Messiah, the Savior of the world. He preached unto you (that is the Jewish nation) by the prophets sent as messengers of God. Jesus was not the majestic Prince that, as the Jewish spiritual leaders taught, would establish an eternal kingdom on earth - a kingdom ruled by the Messiah, that would protect, provide for, and rule over them. Because of this misconception Peter condemned the Jewish nation in these words: But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses (Acts 3:14-15).

Peter continued his sermon to the Jewish unbelievers by proclaiming Jesus Christ, having already appeared on earth, was rejected, crucified, buried, resurrected, ascended back into Heaven from whence He came, and is now ruling His kingdom of Heaven and Earth while seated at the right hand of God. It is there, in Heaven, He will remain until the times of restitution (or restoration) of all things. The reign of Christ over His kingdom spans the period from His ascension until He returns on the Day of Judgment to receive His faithful followers. When this takes place, then God's plan of salvation will be fulfilled, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. These truths are the foundation for Peter's message, warning to the multitude of Jews gathered around him at that time and to all generations that follow. From that time forward, all people, having open and receptive hearts, and a desire to gain the hope of eternal life, are taught to repent ... and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.